Combination hinge and hanger for screens and storm sash



p 3, 1958 J. 5. ALEXANDER 2,852,804

COMBINATION HINGE AND HANGER FOR SCREENS AND STORM SASH Filed March 3,1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1N VENTOF Sept. 23, 1958 J. s. ALEXANDER 2,852,804

COMBINATION HINGE AND HANGER FOR SCREENS AND STORM SASH Filed Marc fi a.1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @tates atent filice COMBINATIDN HINGE AND HANGERFUR SCREENS STQRM @AEE John S. Alexander, Homestead, Fla, assignor toAmerican Screen Products Company, Miami, Fla, a corporation of FloridaThe present invention relates to a combination hinge and hanger forapplication to the wood or metal frame of windows for pivotally hangingscreen and storm sash in the frame.

Heretofore the installation of screens or storm sash has required manyvarious complex forms of hangers, hinges and guide strips and theservices of a skilled carpenter at the site of the work.

It is an object of the present invention to modify the complexity ofscreen and storm sash installation, whether the screen or storm windowframes are of wood or metal.

A further object is to provide a novel hinge for screen or storm windowsash having a self-locking means in combination with the hingestructure, and a release handle for said self-locking means to permitready interchange of a screen for a storm sash and vice versa.

Still a further object is to provide a special hinge to eliminate theneed of nails, screws, bolts or the like for a quick-detachable mountingor hanging of the screen or storm sash in the window frame.

A further special object is to provide novel hinge members for screensand storm sash adapted to frictionally mount and simultaneously centerthe same within the window openings as the same are mounted in the hingemembers.

A further object is to provide a combination device formed of oneunitary piece of sheet metal for pivotally hanging screens and stormsash in wooden window frames, which unitary hanger may be manufacturedand distributed as an article of manufacture.

Yet a further object is to provide a novel embodiment of a screen andstorm sash hanger, whereby the hanger may be secured to metal windowframes.

With the above and other further objects in view, the invention consistsin the construction, arrangement and combination of features hereinafterdescribed and particularly set forth in the. claims.

In the drawing like parts throughout the views are given like numeralsand are thus identified in the following detailed description.

Fig. l is a perspective view of one of the novel double action devicesembodying the present invention and separated from installationposition.

Figure 2 is a top plan view, partly in section illustrating the hangerof Figure 1 applied to a window frame.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a window frame taken at rightangles to Figure 2 and illustrating a window panel in cross-section andthe hanger of Figure 1 in elevation.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of a portion its associatedadapter clamp secured to the frame with a storm window therein.

Fig. 8 is a partial section view showing the adapter clamp of Fig. 7 indetail.

Referring to the drawings and first with reference to Figs. 1 and 3, thedevice comprises a unit formed from a single sheet of metal or suitablematerial to provide a channel A having side walls 10 and 11 and a rearwall 12. The rear wall 12 is formed with a centering friction spring 13,preferably cut and pushed out from the rear wall 12 between the sidewalls of the channel. Also the wall surface 12 extends from between theside walls at one end beyond the wall ends and is formed with an opening14 to receive a pivot means, such as a screw, nail or pivot pingenerally indicated at 1.5.

The side walls 10 and 11 are specially formed each for a specificpurpose. For example, the side 10 is relatively shorter in length thanthe side wall 11, to thereby provide for access to the pivot means 15for installation there of. This permits the free use of an installationtool for securing the unit to the side jamb 16 of the window frame. Therelatively longer side 11 from the channel A is formed with a lateralextension B. This extension extends across the upper corner of thewindow opening below and adjacent the top blind stop 17'and comprises aflexible spring latch arm 18 having a latch means comprising anangularly disposed latch strike member 19 with a catch or nose portion20, see Figs. 1 and 4.

This resiliently flexible or spring strike member 19 coacts with therigid side walls 10 and 11 to lock a screen frame or storm window frameC in the channel A, said frame C having an opposed shoulder 21 adaptedto snap under the catch or nose portion 20 of the strike member.

Also, the strike 19 serves as a release handle for inter change ofscreens and windows in the mounting channels. It is of course understoodthat a left and a right duplicate unit, each with a channel A, issecured to the upper side jamb 16 at each upper corner of the windowframe and to facilitate insertion of the screen or storm window frameinto the respective channels A of each respective unit, the free edgesof each side wall 10 and 11 are flared slight- 1y, as illustrated inFig. 1 at 22 and 23.

From the foregoing description it is believed the simple and efficientmethod of attaching or installing screens or storm sash is clearlyunderstandable. For example, screens or storm sash having frames formedwith a locking shoulder section 21 are provided, and first the unit orhinge with the self-locking latch 20, release handle 19 and frictionspring 13 is pivotally attached to the window jambs at the top by meansof the screw, nail or pin 15. The outer side wall 10, being cut away,permits free use of an installation tool, such as a screw driver or ahammer.

Two hinges, one left and one right, are installed after which the screenor sash may be inserted at the flared bottom of the channel A, when thehinge or hanger members are swung outward from the blind stop 17, asshown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. When the frame enters the channels A.the oppositely facing springs 13 in the respective rear walls .22; ofthe channels center the screen or sash fame and produce a frictional fittherein. Upon contacting the combined strikes and release handles 19,the frame applies force, which retracts the strikes, so that the screenor sash frame may be pushed upward into position. When the screen orsash frame is positioned, the strikes automatically spring back with theportion 24 engaging the frame shoulder 21 and acting in effect as alatch, which is sufiiciently strong to support either a screen or astorm sash.

The screen or sash may now be hinged in or out around pivot means 15 asdesired for access or for ventilation, without danger of dropping out,it being. positively latched in position.

Should it be necessaryor desirous to remove the screen or sash, thespring strike with the latchv portion affords a finger tab to permiteasy release. The latch means may be located either inside or outside asdesired.

;A ;-second embodiment -of this vinvention is .xillustrated in Figsthrough 8 and comprises .ashangerzsimilar to embodiment-one with apivotally. connected adapter clamp 24 to thereby swingably hang a screenor. a storm :sash 25 adjacent a regular Window V] with-a metal sash 26and a metal frame;27. Obviouslywhen installing storm Window hangers .on.a:metal frame, it is not practical to use an attachingscrew 15, such asshown in Figs. 2., 3 and 4 of the first embodiment. Accordingly, theadaptor clamp 24 isprcvided toclamp over the stop 28-in com- ..binationwith the screen or storm sash hanger 23 to thereby connectthecombination to the frame 27.

Thecomplete combination of this second embodiment comprises :a unitformed of a single sheet of metal or other suitable-material toprovide achannel A having sidewalls fail-and 3.1 and a rear wall 32. The bottomWall .32 is formed with a centering spring, such as the leaf spring-.33,preferably cut and pushed out from the rear 32 between the side Walls ofthe channel. These side .walls 34 and 3lare cut short from the round toppart 34 of the rear wall 32 and areflared outwardly at the lower ends'35 and 36 to facilitate the-sliding into the channel A of the screen orstorm sash 25.

The wall 31 includes an integrally formed spring latch arm 37 having alatch means comprising an angularly disposed latch strike 38 formed witha catch 39. This catch 39 functions identically to the catch of thefirst embodiment and is adapted to snap over the frame insert of ascreen or storm sash insert, see Fig. 3 for an illustration of thisfeature.

'Thus far the structural details of the hanger 29 are substantiallyidentical to those of the hanger of the first embodiment, except thatthe wall 31 is cut out at 40 for one leg of the clamp unit 24. Forexample, the novel metal frame adapter clamp unit 24, see Fig. 5, isadded to this structure by means of a rivet or pin 41 through alignedapertures 42 and 43. The first of these apertures 42 is formed in theexposed rounded top end of the wall 32 'of the hanger unit, while theaperture 43 is formed in the top part of an elongated base 44 identicalin shape and size to bottom wall 32.

This base 44 is formed with longitudinal stiffener ribs 45 and 46'and'alaterally extending U-shaped clamp 4'7. This'clarnp 47 comprises legs 48and 49, from armStl, offset at substantially right angles to the-face ofthe base 44, so that the legs of the clamp extend parallel with andteeth act as holding ratchets when the clamp is pushed on to the framestop 28 by biting into the metal to a slight extent, see Fig. 8.

The rivet 41 is applied, so as to hold the rear 32 and base 44 in tightfrictional contact, but the hanger portion is swingable on the rivet 41,which actually serves as a hinge pin. Thus the screen or storm sash whensecured together with the hanger and the adapter clamp to the frame stop28 may be swung in or out as desired and the friction between the rearWall 32 and the base 44 tends to retain the sash to any position towhich it may be swung.

The screen or storm sash is mounted in the channels A of the hangerunits by first pivoting the hanger units outward and then simply slidingthe same into the channel, whereby the leaf springs 33 serve to centerthe sash and frictionally hold it in place. Also, when the screen orsash frame is positioned, the catch 39 automatically springs back so thelatch engages the frame and holds it in place, as illustrated in Figure4 relating to the first embodiment. Then the sash 25 and hanger areswung down parallel with the window W and are held thus by thefrictional resistance between the adaptor base 44 and the hanger unitrear wall 32.

Thus there is provided a simple method and novel means for hanging andhinging screens or storm sash having a shouldered frame section, saidscreens or sash being easily installed or removed and requiring noadditional hanging hardware. Also, the frame is slidable in the channelof each hanger unit to permit adjustment of the screen or sash framewithin certain dimensional limits to the prevailing conformation of thesillof the window frame. This is particularly important in com binationwith double hung windows.

While the present invention is illustrated for only two embodimentsthereof, it is to he expressly understood that many chang andmodifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departingfrom the spirit andscope of the invention, as defined by the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. A combined hinge and hanger unit for screen frames or storm windowframes with a shoulder formation, comprising a frame receiving channel,a self-locking latch engageable with said shoulder formation, said latchbeing manually released when desired, and means adapted to pivotally.mount said frame receiving channel in the'upper side corner of a mainwindow frame, said pivotal mounting means comprising a clamp forengagement over a window frame stop, a base member adapted to supportsaid clamp, said base being pivotally connected at the top'portionthereof to the top portion of said frame receiving channel.

2. The combination described in claim 1, wherein said pivotal connectionof the base and channel comprising a fastener means, whereby said baseand said hanger unit are in tight frictional engagement at'their pivotalconnection.

3. 'A screen and storm sash hanger comprising a U-shaped body open ateach end having a rear wall and side walls, sash centering means formedin said rear wall extending upwardly from said rear wall, a base pivotedto an end of said rear wall, and a metal window frame clamp extendinglaterally from a side of said base, said clamp being adapted to securesaid hanger to the window frame in sash receiving position when a sashis inserted in said U-shaped body against the said sash centering means.

4. The 'screen and storm sash hanger described in claim 3, wherein saidclamp is formed with inwardly projecting teeth adapted to resist removalof said clamp from said window frame after being secured thereto.

5. The screen and storm sash hanger described in claim 3, wherein saidbase is formed with longitudinal ribs adapted to stiffen and providerigidity to said base.

6. An article of manufacture, comprising, a combined hinge and hangerformed from a single piece of sheet metal to provide a frame receivingchannel, a resilient projection formed from the rear wall of thechannel, said rear wall having an apertured extension adapted to befastened to a window jamb, side walls extending at substantially rightangles from the rear wall of the channel with said projectiontherebetween, and an arm extending laterally from one of said sidewalls, said arm including latch means for engagement with a .demountablescreen or window frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS259,318 Kirk June 13, 1882 601,680 Romuender Aug. 5, 1898 871,779 CannanNov. 26, 1907 1,476,966 Hachmann Dec. 11, 1923 2,101,378 Wiskolf Dec.7,'1937 2,369,480 Mills Feb. 13, 1945 2,738,838 Sutter Mar. 20, 1956

